EU to focus on accelerating arms supplies to Ukraine in coming weeks - von der Leyen

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this in her speech at the annual EU Ambassadors Conference in Brussels, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The war in Ukraine remains the most central and consequential crisis for Europe's future. Russia's full-scale war will soon enter its fourth year. Putin is trying harder than ever to win this war on the ground. His goal remains Ukraine's capitulation. And then we know what could happen next. Because it has already happened before. He would move on to the next target – just like he did after 2008 and 2014. It is not only the destiny of Ukraine that is at stake. It is Europe's destiny. It is our first priority that we empower Ukraine's resistance," von der Leyen said.

She recalled that the EU and its member states had already provided Ukraine with EUR 134 billion in support since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, which exceeds the contributions of anyone else.

"Thanks to the Ukraine Facility [in the EU's multiannual budget for 2024-2027] and the G7 loan, we have closed Ukraine's budgetary gap for the entire year of 2025. In parallel, we must speed up the immediate delivery of weapons and ammunition. And this will be at the heart of our work in the coming weeks," von der Leyen said.

The heads of key EU institutions, including the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament, have repeatedly stated that Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine poses existential threats to the whole of Europe.

Since the beginning of the Russian war, the EU and its member states have provided Ukraine with substantial political, diplomatic, economic, financial, humanitarian and military assistance.